Apparatus for printing synthetic anamorphosed films



Jam 17, 1933. H. CHRETIEN 1,894,265

APPARATUS FOR IRINTING SYNTHETIC ANAMORPHOSED FILMS Original Filed Sept.7. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l gs" n INVENTOR Henri 'hrehen QAWM ATTORNEYSJan. 17, 1933. H. CHRETIEN 3 3 APPARATUS FOR PRINTING SYNTHETICANAMQRPHOSED FILMS Original Filed Sept. 7. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.4;

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ATTORNEY? entirely inadequate described and the screen after having beensubmitted anamorphosis which annihilates the distor- Patented Jan. 17,1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRI CHRETIEN, OF SAINT-CLOUD, FRANCEi APPARATUS FOR PRINTING SYNTHETIC ANAMORPHOSEH FILMS Originalapplication filed September 7, 1929, Serial No. 390,878, and thisapplication filed January 6, 1932.

The present invention relates to an application of the principle of theanamorphosis for the obtention of synthetic cinemato graphic views byseveral juxtaposed views 5 corresponding to a plurality of negatives ofdifferent scenes and is particularly adapted to the obtention of suchViews on a film to be used for cinematographic projection. The idea ofproducing simultaneously on a screen,

10 from a single film, different scenes is known in the art, which isnot surprising in view of the possibilities (evocations, contrasts, etc..)it afi'ords to the stage managers but the methods proposed heretoforeshowed 15 always a deficiency which prevented their commercial use.According to said methods.

the different images juxtaposed on the screen covered together thenormal area of one single image and for each of the partial views, an

area was reserved.

The present invention removes this objection by making possible thecopying at the same time, upon one single positive film, .by means of aspecial apparatus hereinafter disclosed in my copending application No.390,878, of which the present application is a division the views takenfrom a plurality of different negatives.

positive film is pro ected by the machine on tion due to the firstanamorphosis. Each of the partial views thus takes on the screen aconvenient space and the wholecovers a 5 rectangle the ratio of which isnot 3X4-as in the projection of standard images; the width (or length)of the image is increased in the same ratio as the anamorphotic powerused or the height is increased in case the 4 producer wishes to placethe different simultaneous views one above the other instead ofalongside one another. I

My novel machine utilizes an anamorphosing system adapted to produceimages having the necessary qualities for their use in the whole fieldrequired in c'nematography. This advantage which has a particular importance when taking the views has already been made use of in otheroptical combinations using the above mentioned anamorphos- Said and inFrance October 6, 1928. Divided Serial No.585,133.

ing system and in other applications of the anamorphis such-as theapplication of U. S. patent application No. 236,300 of Georges Chretienand U. S. Patent N 0. 182,633 of Henri Chretien. The anamorphosingsystem proper is disclosed in my copending U. S. patent application N 0.395,045.

For a better understanding of the invention reference should be had tothe accompanying drawings. of which:

Fig. l-is a plan View of a printing machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 1a is a view of the anamorphoser adapted to be used with themachine of Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the machine taken along theline 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of one method whereby threedifferent ima es may be distributed on the exposed sensitive coating ofthe same film;

The machine illustrated as embodying the invention comprises threestationary prisms 1,1 and 1" arranged around a prism 2 which is adaptedto be intermittently rotated to successively direct the light from thestationary prisms to an objective 3 of any suitable type. Between theparts of the'objective 3 shown on Figure 1, an anamorphoser shown, onFigure 1a is placed. for example two cylindrical lenses 12 and 13 thegenerating lines of which are parallel, said lenses being adjusted asdisclosed in the above mentioned patent and patent applications. Thecylindrical lenses may be located as shown one on one side and the otheron the other side of the diaphragm 14:. A film 4 upon which the imagesare to be combined travels in the path of the light from objective 3.Feeding devices 5, 5 and 5" carrying the original negatives 6, 6 and 6"are associated with the respective prisms 1, l and 1 and are drivensynchronously with the movement of prism 2. Preferably the position ofthe feeding devices are adjustable to enable any point on the films 6, 6or 6" to be brought into the center of the area of the This anamorphosercomprises respectively and transmit the light well @own manner.

- number of negative film 6, 6' prism toward of the movement of films 6,6' and 6" with may be efiected in any When the prisms 1, 1' and 1" arearranged concentrically, as shown, the planes of the films 6, 6 and 6"may be made to coincide and the mechanical operation of the devices 5,5' and 5 thereby sim lified'. j

l the anamorphosis ratio is equal tothe films the views oi the negtherotation of prism 2 I ,atives are integrally reproduced. lit said ra- IFig. 4) bylO 10 and 10' in the removable screen 9 associated with filmtie is lower than films,'part only of each view is copied on thepositive film.

Figures 3 and a show the extreme case when theanamorphosis ratio ishigher ratio greater parts of the views of tlie. o e.

1:1. In case of a films 6,6 and.6" including even the wh views areprinted on film 4 the movable screens or masks being cut accordingly.

Removable opaquescreens 9, 9' and 9", provided with openings cut in anyarbitrary fashion, are placed in the lighting apertures of the images onfilmsfi, 6. and 6 so as to select in each negative the region to berepro;

duced. If it is desired to reproduce on film 4: such sections of films6, 6 and 6" as are designated respectively on the said film 4 (see thenthe opening 6 is cut in the shape ofi section 10, the opening in thescreen 9' associated with film 6' is cut and similarly the in the shapeof section 10' o ening in the screen 9" associated with film 6 is cut inthe shape of section 10". Surface 10, is printed when-face 11 of prism 2is exposed to the incident light from prism l; the beam of lightfollowing the path a, h, 0 and d. The Geneva driver then turns prism 2through 90 to bring face 11 into the path of the incident li ht iromlprism 1'; the beam of light now to owing t e path a, b, 0 and d andcausingsection 10" to be printed upon film 4. Similarly, upon'rbtationof prism 2 through 90, li ht passing through the exposed portion 0 film6"- travels in the path a", h", c and d to print section 10" Darin thefurther rotation of prism 2, film dis a vanced through the distancerequired to bring an unexposed portion into view; negthe number ofnegative upon the film 4.

viously the shape neeasee correlating the lighting to the rotation ofprism 2. These means are not illustrated as they are well known in theart. For example, a rotating shutter could be arranged to screen thelight except when prism 2 is tionary, or the electric circult could bearranged for closure only during such periods. If it is desired to printall of the images from films 6, 6' and 6" on film 4 inorder tothereafter-project the three pictures in juxtaposition, the anamorphoserillustrated in lFi g. M is'inserted between the parts of the objective 3of Fig. 1. The use of the anamorphoser permits of the three images onefrom each of films 6, 6 and 6 being reproduced in com- .pressed form asa single image of standard ard dimensions.

When it is desired to usethe machine for reproducing on a film ofstandard dimensions views taken with a wide angle lens on a larger sizenegative, as disclosed in the above-mentioned United States applicationS. N. 335,564 the anamorphoser of Fig. 1a is also inserted between theparts of the objective 3 of Fig. 1 and the over size negative film isfed by one or the other of devices 5, 5 or 5"; the other devices beingrendered inoperative,asby closure of the removable screens associatedtherewith. The film i will then have printed thereon images of standarddimensions but with laterally or horizontally compressed .views, whichmay be projected through another anamorphoser to give panoramic picturesof granulation oi the'order of that of the original large size negative.

Instead or reducing the images from a large negative, or from aplurality of negatives, to produce images of standard dimensions on thefilm a, the machine may be used with the anamorphoser of Fig. la tocompress im-' ages from a film of standard dimensions'to thereby reservespace on film 4 for the acoustic elements of a sound film.

The new machine for printin of synthetic films has now been described inconnection with one particular embodiment thereof.

@bviously various modifications could bemade in the machine withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

The number of negative films may thus vary as well as the anamor hosisratio. When this ratio is lower than t e number of negative films, it isnot essential that the borders of the regions cut out by the removablescreens meet. They may even overlap to superpose several images ifdesired. 0bof these sections is immaterial, as is also the number ofsubjects combined on a single film. In place of the prism 2,

an Amici prisn nknown asaroofshapedprism,

sta-, of the light neaaaes may be advantageously employed This prism, byreproducing on film 4 images that are not inverted, permits of thesimplification of the driving mechanism of the films; film i beingdriven in the same direction as are the original negatives, when theimages thereon are not inverted, llt is possible also tosubstitute'mirrors for any or all of the prisms" l Vhat ll claim is:

1. A machine for obtaining synthetic anamorphosed films from a pluralityof ori inal films said machine comprising in combination a mask placedbehind each of the original films each oi said masks covering on eachfilm the part not to be reproduced, stationary prism placed behind eachof said masks, a prism adapted to be intermittently I rotated inpositions to receive light transmitted through said original filmsthrough said masks and through said stationary prism and to transmitsaid light in one direction and an optical system comprising a sphericalobjective and cylindrical lenses the generating lines of which areplaced in a parallel relation said optical system being adapted toreceive the light transmitted by said rotatable prism and to transmitthe same onto different unexposed portions of a filmr 2. A machine forobtaining synthetic anamorphosed films from a plurality of origi nalfilms, said machine comprising in combination a stationary prism placedbehind each of said films, a prism adapted to be intermittently rotatedin positions to receive light transmitted through said original filmsand through said stationary prisms and to transmit said light in onedirection and an optical system comprising a spherical obective andcylindrical lenses the generating lines of which are placed in parallelrelation, said optical system being adapted to receive the lighttransmitted by said rotatable prism and to transmit the same ontodifferent un exposed portions of a film.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

HENRI CHRETIEN.

